The Miami Dolphins have an opportunity to make a statement to themselves and the rest of the NFL if they manage to come away with a win against the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday evening.
Unfortunately, they fell behind in the second quarter, and they may have to mount a comeback without wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who is questionable to return due to a back injury.
Injury Update | Jaylen Waddle has a back injury and is questionable to return.
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) October 23, 2023
#Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle just walked very gingerly to the locker room.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 23, 2023
Jaylen Waddle "yelled in pain" on the sidelines before he went to the locker room.
— Dolphin Nation (@Dolphin_Nation) October 23, 2023
The Dolphins were already short-handed coming into this contest. Star cornerback Xavien Howard was unable to play due to a groin injury. He had previously said he was planning on suiting up and playing against the Eagles.
While they come into Week 7 with a 5-1 record — which is tied for the best mark in the league — and are first in points and yards per game, some have wondered if they are as good as the numbers indicate. All five of their wins came against teams that don’t have a good shot at making the playoffs, which led commentator Colin Cowherd to claim that they resemble men in Miami who pretend to be rich.
Still, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa led everyone in passing yards, passing touchdowns and passer rating coming into this week, while star wide receiver Tyreek Hill appears to be having a season for the ages. Through six games, “Cheetah” already has accumulated 814 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns, both of which lead the league.
Philly, meanwhile, is coming off a surprising Week 6 loss to the New York Jets. It has something to prove itself, as it blew a 10-point lead in last season’s Super Bowl, and although it also has a 5-1 record coming into Sunday, it hasn’t been firing on all cylinders, at least not yet.
As of this writing, the Fins trail the Eagles 17-10 after Hill scored a touchdown off a beautifully thrown pass by Tagovailoa. Waddle had two catches for 24 yards before he left the game in pain.
